₦airaland Forum

As part of efforts to combat corruption and recover misappropriated public funds, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of ₦279 million to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Lagos.


The handover ceremony took place on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi.

A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the agency, Dele Oyewale, said the Commission had, in 2009, received a petition from Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager/CEO of the National Theatre, against one Prince Benjamin Apugo and others, alleging that a contract worth ₦299,707,828.00 was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nig. Limited for the construction of five gates, sand filling, and reclamation works at the National Theatre.

It disclosed that investigations revealed that the suspect, Yusuf Ahmed Atai, in his capacity as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre, released the sum of ₦334,229,794.24 to the contractor, which exceeded the original contract sum by ₦34,521,966.00.

“Further investigations showed that the contractor only executed work valued at ₦55,910,744.00, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦243,799,132.25 in unexecuted work.

The suspect also failed to refund the excess payment of ₦34,521,966.00.

“Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was charged in court for prosecution.
During the course of the trial, a total sum of ₦279,000,000.00 was recovered from the defendant on behalf of the complainant,” the statement partly read.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to ensure that public funds are properly accounted for and returned to their rightful owners.

He urged the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts to use the recovered funds judiciously.

“We cannot suffer to recover this money for you and then have it used for purposes other than what it is meant for after receiving it from us. We have already asked you to tell us what you intend to do with it, and you should know that we will keep an eye on how it is utilised.

“Nigerians have always sought to know what the Commission does with recovered funds,” he said.

He added that the Commission would periodically inspect the project for which the funds would be used.

“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will be watching the pace of work. Do not tamper with the recovered funds. Use them for the benefit of Nigeria and all of us,” he added.

The Head of Finance and Accounts, Jatto Kabiru, who received the bank drafts on behalf of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, expressed appreciation to the Commission for recovering the funds and assured that they would be used appropriately.

“We are most grateful for this remarkable feat of recovering this amount of money for us. The EFCC is one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable law enforcement agencies. I assure you that the money will be used judiciously,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Tinubu had in July 2024 renamed the edifice the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate.

The renovation of the Centre wasfunded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.

The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy provided policy direction and oversight, guiding the transformation of the facility into a national asset and a launchpad for Nigeria’s creative industries.

https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/06/efcc-hands-over-recovered-%e2%82%a6279m-to-wole-soyinka-centre-in-lagos/

Only if the money won't be relooted

How about the interest since 2009

It is well with everyone

Nigerian has this instinct of steal steal for mind.

They will say it is the government, but here are they stealing for personal gain.
Bunch of hypocrite going to mosque and church on Sundays. Same crooks avoiding blames and responsibility.
As it is an abomination for a white parent to give birth to black, so is it with corruption in Nigeria.
The elite ,masses are all crooks.

Interest in corruption cases in this country?lol.

2special:
How about the interest since 2009

just believe that this country is just running by no he@rt set of people

Sincerely speaking, most Nigerians are really a corrupt set of people. 8 out of 10 Nigerians will "steal" if opportuned

Wao since 2009, so all these thiefing governors when their cases dey court na 2049 dem go take convict them .....

Flex this kind of muscles with the thieving polithievians as well like YB and we'll take you more seriously.

Well done on this though

princeade86:
Interest in corruption cases in this country?lol. just believe that this country is just running by no he@rt set of people

Speaking like Saint . Talking as if he might not steal than that if he had opportunity. Talking has if he is not among Nigerians that want their leaders to send Thier children to public school but him as Nigerian send his children to private schools .

Na amala politics dey cause thief thief.

Corruptions everywhere

Handover ceremony for recovered funds. How does that make any sense?

Ceremony to return funds. WHY?

Darekiki:
Nigerian has this instinct of steal steal for mind.

They will say it is the government, but here are they stealing for personal gain.

Why did they rename it after Wole Soyinka ? Herbert Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts than Soyinka did. Remove all Soyinka's activism which has kept him in the public eye and what do you have. He may have won a Nobel prize a century ago but still when last did he write anything ?

Chiuna Achebe was even more revered than Soyinka.

I feel renaming it after Soyinka was a bad move since Soyinka is more activist than writer.

KobolanderSegun:
Why did they rename it after Wole Soyinka ? Herbert Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts than Soyinka did. Remove all Soyinka's activism which has kept him in the public eye and what do you have. He may have won a Nobel prize a century ago but still when last did he write anything ?

Chiuna Achebe was even more revered than Soyinka.

I feel renaming it after Soyinka was a bad move since Soyinka is more activist than writer.

You are not making any iota of sense. You've simply asked a series of weak questions, then proceeded to change the goalposts.

Eg: you claimed Herbet Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts and state that minus activism Soyinka has nothing to show. Then you remembered he has a Nobel prize for his work and then shifted the argument from his has nothing to show to he has done nothing lately. Should you be a expecting a 90 plus year old man to be delivering fresh work?

KobolanderSegun:
Why did they rename it after Wole Soyinka ? Herbert Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts than Soyinka did. Remove all Soyinka's activism which has kept him in the public eye and what do you have. He may have won a Nobel prize a century ago but still when last did he write anything ?

Chiuna Achebe was even more revered than Soyinka.

I feel renaming it after Soyinka was a bad move since Soyinka is more activist than writer.

Oga politics in the world doesn't speak doing things right. It's speaks doing things that favours u. Now whether soyinka or not, it is wrong to steal public funds just to enjoy useless lifestyle. That is why Nigeria is struggling, bcus the people in it doesn't want corrupt free plans

SmartyPants:
You are not making any iota of sense. You've simply asked a series of weak questions, then proceeded to change the goalposts.

Eg: you claimed Herbet Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts and state that minus activism Soyinka has nothing to show. Then you remembered he has a Nobel prize for his work and then shifted the argument from his has nothing to show to he has done nothing lately. Should you be a expecting a 90 plus year old man to be delivering fresh work?

Yes nah. Ronaldo is 40 and still scoring fresh goals. Name one book by him that shook Nigeria. Did he write " Chike and the River " or was he the one who wrote " An African Nights Entertainment ".

KobolanderSegun:
Yes nah. Ronaldo is 40 and still scoring fresh goals. Name one book by him that shook Nigeria. Did he write " Chike and the River " or was he the one who wrote " An African Nights Entertainment ".

We are talking theatre, you are talking novels (children's novels at that), while referencing footballers as examples. Try to rest, as it's obvious you don't even understand the literary ecosystem.

SmartyPants:
We are talking theatre, you are talking novels (children's novels at that), while referencing footballers as examples. Try to rest, as it's obvious you don't even understand the literary ecosystem.

Go and read an African Nights Entertainment again that book is not for children, it's one of the greatest books ever written. When I mentioned Chike and the River I'm talking of works of literature that are global in the Nigeria literary space. O.... my mother used to act with Wole Soyinka in ibadan

As how now...

Oh my goodness

What is happening in Nigeria

Nigerians, funny people. Na this country you go see so-called G-Boy or yahoo boy brazenly calling others thieves or corrupt and doesn't see himself as one.

helinues:
Only if the money won't be relooted

This apc government will definitely reloot it and you of all people know it.


After all we have a klepto as president.

2special:
How about the interest since 2009

Good point. I did the search. See it below - over 3 billion naira.
They played us for fools as usual

backbone503:
Sincerely speaking, most Nigerians are really a corrupt set of people. 8 out of 10 Nigerians will "steal" if opportuned

Exactly,you just nailed it

2special:
How about the interest since 2009

You no even thank God you see the principal you are talking of interest

KobolanderSegun:
Why did they rename it after Wole Soyinka ? Herbert Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts than Soyinka did. Remove all Soyinka's activism which has kept him in the public eye and what do you have. He may have won a Nobel prize a century ago but still when last did he write anything ?

Chiuna Achebe was even more revered than Soyinka.

I feel renaming it after Soyinka was a bad move since Soyinka is more activist than writer.

Send obi to form another protest for naming it after the prof, what has prof Soyinka achieved?? Hate will kill and retrogress you people ! There’s no man born of a woman from your region can achieve what prof soyinka has achieved ! Use your google to verify the most popular Nigerian professor!

I pray this spirit "lootocracy" doesn't enter our DNA finally!

See money!

This country is about the richest country in the world.. Walahi...

Imagine how much money is stolen every day in Nigeria and he never sink... Kai!

KobolanderSegun:
Why did they rename it after Wole Soyinka ? Herbert Ogunde had a more profound effect on the arts than Soyinka did. Remove all Soyinka's activism which has kept him in the public eye and what do you have. He may have won a Nobel prize a century ago but still when last did he write anything ?

Chiuna Achebe was even more revered than Soyinka.

I feel renaming it after Soyinka was a bad move since Soyinka is more activist than writer.

Nonsense , try n be positive in your thinking. There no cultural icon alive today bigger than Soyinka.

backbone503:
Sincerely speaking, most Nigerians are really a corrupt set of people. 8 out of 10 Nigerians will "steal" if opportuned

wrong . 12 out of 10 Nigerians would steal or corner for them self what is not theirs if the opportunity arises . See., it would be 12 outta 10 because one Nigerian out of the ten will still claim he is representing the non existent two other people to make twelve !,

Have always said it....most Nigerians are thieves...no matter how educated or connected they are.....put them in your establishment and you would regret it for the rest of your life. You can only manage them when working for you so that they wouldn't steal so much and kill your establishment....they always steal........

chopnaira:
https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/06/efcc-hands-over-recovered-%e2%82%a6279m-to-wole-soyinka-centre-in-lagos/

You are perfectly right bro.....i tire....to travel sef and leave my establishment for employees, truthfully fear go dey catch me small small say they never turn the company upside down.....with excellent salary and good working conditions....you cant still trust them completely.....

PlayerMeji:
See money!

This country is about the richest country in the world.. Walahi...

Imagine how much money is stolen every day in Nigeria and he never sink... Kai!